The Ford key fob is a great convenience, but it can also be a source of frustration when it doesn’t work properly. If your Ford key fob isn’t working after you’ve changed the battery, you can try a few things to get it working again.
The most common solution when a car remote is not working is to change the battery. But what do you do if your key fob is not working after a battery change? The first thing you have to do is figure out what is going on.
There is no way to recommend a solution without knowing why a key fob is not working after a battery change. But once you find out what is wrong, you can also find your fix.
This is a common problem that many Ford owners face. This blog post will discuss the causes of this problem and how to fix it.
Your Ford key fob not working after a battery change is probably caused by the battery change itself. The key fob must be reset to the car after replacing the battery in the key fob remote, as the key was erased when the battery was changed. This is why nothing is operating with your key fob remote.
You’ll need to reprogram the remote back to the vehicle once you’ve replaced the battery in your key fob remote.
What Is A Key Fob?
A key fob is a small, hand-held remote that can lock and unlock your car doors from a distance. It can also be used to activate the panic alarm on your car. Key fobs typically have buttons for locking and unlocking the doors and a button for activating the panic alarm.
How A Key Fob Works
A key fob works by sending a radio signal to a receiver that is located inside the car. The receiver then activates the locks or the alarm.
Key fobs use rolling codes, which means that each time you press a button on the remote, it sends a different code to the receiver. This makes it difficult for someone to intercept the signal and unlock your car without your permission.
Reasons Why Your Ford Key Fob May Not Work After A Battery Change?
As we mentioned, one of the most common reasons your Ford key fob might not be working after you’ve changed the battery is that it needs to reset.
If you’ve replaced the battery in your key fob remote and it’s still not working, the reasons could be one of the following:
1. Worn Buttons
The buttons on a remote wearing down may be why a key fob is not working after a battery change. Buttons on a key fob use contacts that send signals to a circuit board when the button is pressed. The contacts can wear down, or the buttons can wear so they don’t touch the contacts.
The most obvious sign of a worn button is when the plastic has fallen apart, and the contact is exposed. Without a visual indicator, you have to use context clues. For example, a key fob will not unlock doors, but the lock button does work; you might have a worn unlock button.
It is always a good idea to test a spare remote and see if whatever issue you are experiencing persists, even with a different key. For example, if two key fobs have the same problem, the reason for your key fob not working after a battery change is probably not a worn button or contact issue.
2. The key fob remote was not properly programmed for the vehicle
The key fob must be properly programmed to the vehicle in order for it to work. If you’ve replaced the battery in your key fob remote and it’s still not working, it’s possible that the remote was not properly programmed for the vehicle.
3. The receiver is not working
The receiver receives the signal from the key fob remote and activates the locks or the alarm. If the receiver is not working, then the key fob will not be able to communicate with it, and it will not work.
4. Deprogramming
With a car remote not working after a battery change, there is a chance that it was deprogrammed. Deprogramming refers to instances where the vehicle’s onboard computer has been procedurally instructed to remove all existing keys from its access list.
Deprogramming can happen as a result of buttons pressed on the Remote. Certain button sequences can send a message to the onboard computer to invalidate all existing keys. If you have more than one key fob not working after a battery change, you might be experiencing deprogramming.
Some key fobs can be programmed into multiple vehicles. These keys have a sequence that changes which vehicle the fob will open. As a result, it is possible to accidentally switch your key fob into an unprogrammed secondary key state.
You can check online or in your owner’s manual to see if this is a feature your car has. If it is, check to see if you can reprogram your key yourself. Keep in mind that key fob programming may require professional tools if you do not have a spare key.
5. The battery in the key fob remote is low
Even if you’ve just replaced the battery in your key fob remote, it’s possible that the battery is already low. Key fobs use a lot of power, and the batteries don’t last very long. If the battery in your key fob remote is low, it will not be able to communicate with the receiver.
6. Broken Locks
The cause of a key fob not working after a battery change might have nothing to do with the key fob. You may have a car door stuck in the lock position or need to fix the car door latches. In any case, the problem could be that a part of the lock has broken.
The best way to tell whether a broken lock is the source of your trouble is to check and see if the remote is working to open or lock one or more doors. Sometimes multiple door locks can fail at once, but if they start failing one by one, this is also a sign that your key is not responsible.
If a car door won’t open from the inside or outside, that is a great indication that no work needs to be done to the key fob. Locks that do not move, no matter how they are manipulated, are broken locks. Other than doors, you might also encounter the need for car trunk lock repair.
It is not a good idea to neglect your car door locks. It is a major safety concern if the doors are not opening properly. And if your locks are not reliably locking, your security is going to suffer. So make sure to fix your locks as soon as damage starts to affect usability.
7. Damaged Key
For this article, “damage” will refer to harm that has come to the key fob outside of basic wear caused by repeated instances of standard use. Water, blunt force, circuit board scratches, etc., can cause this damage.
You should suspect a damaged key is why your key fob is not working after a battery change if it suddenly stopped working after it was opened, stepped on, or got wet. Damage may be visible, but not in every instance.
Unlike a key with worn buttons, a damaged key will need to be fully replaced. For this reason, you are likely to incur a higher key fob replacement cost if you have a damaged key. However, if your issues only stem from the housing being damaged, partial replacement may be an option.
8. Electrical Issues
In more severe cases, a key fob not working after a battery change may be due to damage to the vehicle’s electrical system. For example, this may happen after service to the car, where the dashboard panels or side panels have to be removed and reinstalled.
While panels are removed, wires are exposed. As a result, they can be damaged or disconnected unknowingly during service or when the panels are being put back on. If you just had this type of work done before your key fob started acting up, check for further electrical malfunctions.
Other electrical failures that may accompany key fob issues are the car horn now working, lights not turning on, etc. Fixing this kind of problem is beyond what an auto locksmith service offers. A car mechanic has more training and supplies to solve general electrical problems.
9. There is a problem with the key fob remote itself
When you’ve replaced the battery in your key fob remote, and it’s still not working, there may be a problem with the key fob remote itself. It’s possible that the key fob is damaged or was not properly programmed for the vehicle.
Some Symptoms And Possible Solutions When Your Car Key Fob Is Not Working After A Battery Change
1. Worn Buttons
Symptoms:
Pressing buttons works some of the time, but not every time.
Buttons can work when pressed in a specific way.
One button works, and another does not.
Solutions:
Replace the remote housing.
Replace the car key fob.
2. Broken Locks
Symptoms:
The Remote will open some door locks and not others.
Indicator lights flash to show a signal is being sent without doors opening.
Door locks visibly move without fully engaging or disengaging.
Locks do not open or lock with the key or when directly manipulated.
Solutions:
Car lock repair.
Car lock replacement.
3. Deprogramming
Symptoms:
A vehicle has a self-deprogramming or reprogramming procedure.
The spare Remote is also not working.
The key fob abruptly stopped working entirely.
Solutions:
Self-programming (in limited cases)
Call Locksmith
Contact Dealership
4. Damaged Key
Symptoms:
Problems arise after sudden damage to the key.
The key is visibly broken.
Buttons will not move.
A spare key works.
Solutions:
Housing replacement.
Full key fob replacement.
5. Electrical Issues
Symptoms:
The car is experiencing other electrical malfunctions.
Problems started after wiring was exposed, worked on, or otherwise accessed.
Solutions:
Reconnect wires.
Replace damaged wires.